Ketchup: Heinz 57 Style.

I haven't had much time lately to post (half the time I forget to take pictures anyway), but I thought I would post a quick update - for myself more than anyone else.  For whatever reason I have found that when I look back on things, they are so much better than they seemed at the time.  I nearly always forget about "the {stressful}, the bad, and the ugly," and have a chance to reflect on (and see) what was good about it all.

I never posted about Valentines Day.  That's because we hardly noticed it around here (I know... so unfortunate).  We didn't have to make a valentines box (or two... or three...) for the first time in an eternity.  I didn't have to plan a school party.  I didn't have cash on hand to lavish my family with {heartfelt} purchases.  I DID tell them all that I love them, though.  And I had made valentines sugar cookies to send to Lexee earlier in the week, and there were still a few hanging around.  Shilo worked and Mar had swim practice.  Mar and I made these giants cookies for her friends, though,

and ran them around that afternoon.  Good enough.

Mar was able to do baptisms at the temple for the first time on Feb. 23rd.  The whole family (down to 4 of us... still seems weird) got to go along.  It was an awesome experience.  I felt like I hadn't quite prepared Mar as I was looking on - she is a contact-lens-wearer, which makes it hard (at least in my experience) to open your eyes in-between names.  I should have told her to keep her eyes closed, I thought.  Afterwards, while chatting to her about the experience, I mentioned that I should have told her.  Her response was, "I was just surprised that I was getting baptized for more than one person!"  You would think I would know after five kids how to adequately prepare them, but I guess I'm still learning.  And you would think I would have thunk to take a picture to remember the occasion by.  Nope.

 On our way home, we stopped by to see some baby lambs at the barn of a ward member.  Initially we planned to go home and change first, but decided were prompted to head straight over - I had a commitment later that day and we didn't want to be rushed for time.  Just as we arrived at the barn, in the first stall we came to, a ewe had just given birth to a lamb, and was beginning to birth it's twin.  I have to say that it was pretty darn cool to see.  I admire the mother: nursing one, birthing the other.  Talk about multi-tasking.  I think it was a great learning opportunity for Shi and Mar, too.

Had we gone home first, we would have missed it.
And I happened to think about taking a picture.

Mar had the opportunity to make a return trip to the temple the following week, this time a bit more prepared ;-)


I am just coming off of my birthday week.  Here is the quick version:

Lunch with some friends on Thursday at PF Changs (thank you, ladies!)

Chocolates on my porch on Friday

Gifts, cards, and birthday wishes (calls, messages, texts) on Saturday, along with

a swim meet,

dinner at Red Robin,

an angel food cake,

and 45 candles.

Mar had left a few notes around the house to create a party atmosphere:

A huge thank you to everyone!

I realize there are no pictures of me.  Let's just say that I was in my pj's for half of them (I'm getting old, you know), and the other half were just short of flattering (I'm looking old, too).

Also last week I completed and submitted our 2012 Ward History.  I think it took me about 20 hours to compile all the info we (my two assistants and I) had collected.  I changed out the ward bulletin board at the church, updated/printed/copied the Sunday bulletin, and prepared for my third week subbing as Primary chorister.  Can I just say, "Phew. Glad it's over."

There you have it: a mix of this and that in an attempt to ketchup.
Heinz 57 style.